What happened
Shares of Intel (INTC -1.79%) plummeted on Friday, following the release of its second-quarter earnings report and conference call. As of 3:20 p.m. EDT, Intel's stock was down more than 16%.
So what
Intel's Q2 revenue climbed 20% year over year to $19.7 billion, driven by strong growth in its data-focused businesses. Its adjusted earnings per share, meanwhile, increased by 16% to $1.23. Both figures were above Wall Street's estimates. Analysts expected revenue and adjusted EPS of $18.5 billion and $1.11, respectively.
Intel stock plunged on Friday. Image source: Getty Images.
However, Intel gave investors multiple causes for concern. At 53.3%, Intel's gross margin was down sharply from the 59.8% it reached in the prior-year period and the lowest it's been in more than a decade. Falling gross margins typically reflect higher costs and an inability to pass those costs on to customers.
Worse still, Intel said the launch of its new 7-nanometer chips would be delayed by roughly six months. Analysts say the delay will give rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD 0.69%), which has already begun selling its 7-nanometer chips, a significant advantage. AMD's stock, in turn, rose sharply on the news.
Now what
There were already concerns that AMD's new chips -- due to their significantly improved performance and advanced graphics capabilities -- would begin to take share from Intel. A 6-month delay will only add to Intel's troubles and likely accelerate AMD's market share gains. Should this scenario play out, more pain could lie ahead for Intel's shareholders.
